Atlanta Hawks center Zaza Pachulia slips out of his sneakers, kneels on a yoga mat and exhales.

Sitting on the back of his heels, Pachulia lowers his upper body onto his thighs. He stretches his arms out in front of him. With his body folded, only his long arms hint at his towering height of 6 feet 11 inches. Clad in baggy gray sweatpants, Pachulia smoothly glides from one yoga pose to the next — Downward-Facing Dog, Warrior Pose and the Tree Pose.

It's a bit of an unexpected behind-the-scenes moment for an athlete known for playing a very physical game, not afraid to mix it up on the court.

Yet, this player best remembered by Hawks fans for his altercation with Celtics star Kevin Garnett in the 2008 playoffs credits yoga with helping his flexibility and balance and making his body feel good — before and after games. Pachulia also noticed something else.

Three seasons ago, the Atlanta Hawks hired Michelle Young, a yoga instructor, to incorporate yoga into their training regimen. It's part of a growing trend of professional athletes turning to this ancient discipline to stay on the cutting edge to help players stave off injuries and keep playing. The Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers have also reportedly hired yoga instructors. Meanwhile, although the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta Braves surely have their own serious training regimens, neither team has a yoga instructor.